Blogs - Kristin Carpenter

May 5, 2013

Playing The Whack-A-Mole Game

The relationship between horse and rider in eventing is unlike any other sport. While eventing demands the obedience of dressage, the horse must think for itself. While it requires the carefulness of a show jumper, the horse must be equal parts bold. But greater than any trait horses are born with, successful event horses must trust their riders more than they trust their instincts. Cross-country is unique to eventing, and it requires a horse to trust that the lake its rider asks it to leap into is shallow, and that the drop jump into the horizon will have land on the other side.

April 8, 2013

The Things That Time Steals

By: Kristin Carpenter

If you are lucky, once in your life you will have a once-in-a-lifetime horse. Just be aware that with that blessing comes a monumental responsibility—knowing when to say when on their career.

I stumbled upon my once-in-a-lifetime horse, Trance, on Valentine’s Day in 2002. I was a baby at 17 years old, and he was remarkably used at 4. I had aspired to be an eventer my whole life, but in reality I was a hunter show outcast and queen of beginner novice eliminations. Trance was a rejected race horse and failed barrel racer.

March 11, 2013

Looking The Part Versus Living The Part: Thoughts For The Struggling Working Students Of The World

By: Kristin Carpenter

To the countless working students I see struggling: do not get discouraged, and keep the focus on the quality of your riding.

Comments

rubymilo
10 weeks 8 hours ago

Thank you!

This was a fantastic read! Thank you for this...as a working student it is some of the best advice I have read. I know I will think of it often throughout the rest of my life.

PennyChrome
9 weeks 5 days ago

So true!

As a 27 year old Pro heading off to be a humble working student yet again (round 5!) this advice couldn't have come at a better time. What a great perspective ! As a veteran WS, I've been in backyard barns all the way up through Olympic barns. Here's MY best advice: Don't complain and do what you're told. Then do MORE without being asked. RIDE RIDE RIDE. When you're not riding, WATCH better riders riding and teaching. If you have a gripe, SPEAK UP (politely) because trainer's are trainer's, not mind readers. Believe it or not, they actually want you to be happy, not miserable. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Like the author says, don't get fooled by 'fancy' barns, gear, or horses. The BEST barns are the tidy, Workmanlike barns, they run like well oiled machines!